Quote:
Originally Posted by Notanlines
Nate, you're heading the exact way most newbies go with the BS tow capacity listed. That isn't the most important, even close to most important. He was directing you to look into the 'cargo capacity' of your truck. There will be cargo, hitches, four or more passengers, suitcases, tools, etc, etc, etc in your 20 year old truck. Then you will add the pin weight of the RV. Generally use 20% of the gross weight of the RV. Do NOT believe the RV salesman, and sure as hell don't believe the statistics published by the truck manufacturer.
Fill your truck with wife, kids, and a few things you think you might bring on a typical trip. Drive to your friendly CAT scale and weigh the front (steer) and rear (drive) axles. Any large truck stop has the scales for about $11.00. Look on the sticker on the driver door pillar for the GVW of YOUR particular truck and subtract what your truck weighs. What's left is the weight you have t play with. Nope, don't hand us any happy BS about air bags and extra springs and big tires and blah, blah, bah. That won't fly.
Then get back to us and we'll go from there. Kudo's to you for wanting to be debt-free. A noble thought for sure! And, by the way, the RV you're looking at has similar models that just sold for 6K and 8K.
Jim
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Hey, she is an old girl but still has lots of pep in her step! The truck, that is
I know that there has been a lot of towing inflation, it's pretty ridiculous with the current models. My truck has 10200# towing and 3598# payload capacity per the manual. The 5th wheels are are looking at are about 5.5K-6.5K GVWR and 880LB to 1K tongue weight. With 500# of people, 15# of dog, and lots of stuff that still leaves me at only using ~50% carrying and 55%-65% of towing capacity. I think that's a reasonable margin for safety and an older truck. Who knows, if we like this RVing thing then a newer truck (I had a 2007 Megacab that I sold when diesel was $4 a gallon) is a distinct possibility. I sure do miss that truck.
Thanks for the caution, I appreciate it.
nate